Missy Elliott performed at the Super Bowl halftime show and Surge soft drink has gotten a re-release. Pull out those old jean shorts — the 1990’s are making a comeback! When I think back to the 90s, I always feel a sense of nostalgia while reminiscing on my favorite childhood memories. In honor of National Old Stuff Day on March 2nd, here are a few of my 90s favorites, and how the technology of our past has helped transform the technology today.

Music

When we think of music, it can be hard to remember the old cassette tape based Sony Walkman (1979), the CD based Sony Discman (1984) or even the Sony MiniDisk (1992). It wasn’t until 1998 that Diamond Multimedia released the first MP3 player, the Rio PMP300, for commercial use.

Music today is easily accessible using iTunes and other media platforms, but that hasn’t always been the case. Back when Walkman and Discman were the everyday norm, we had to carry collections of our favorite tapes — or binders full of CDs — to have all our music readily available. Today, if you desire a specific song, it’s as easy as searching and downloading your favorite tunes to your MP3 player or mobile device for instant enjoyment.

Movies

Do you remember the saying “Be kind, please rewind?” Did you or your family own a VHS Tape Rewinder? Mine sure did. We also had stacks upon stacks of VHS tape boxes scattered throughout our home. When DVDs were first released (1995), it took my family a few years to join the movement, but we inevitably replaced our bulky VHS tapes with slim DVD cases. Eventually those DVDs were replaced with Blu-rays (2006) which now seem to have been made obsolete by digital content streaming services like Netflix and Amazon today. Remember back when you had to drive to the movie store to rent a newly released movie? Just look at the content available today, those days are long gone.

Games

What was the first video game you ever played? Do the popular titles from back in the day like Super Mario Brothers (1985), Duck Hunt (1985), Lemmings (1991), Doom (1993), Pokémon (1996) and Donkey Kong 64 (1999) ring a bell? If you found yourself playing on the Super NES (1983), the first handheld GameBoy (1989), the Super Nintendo (1990), or the Nintendo 64 (1996) you were probably a Mario fan. Sega Genesis (1989), Sega Dreamcast (1999) and the original PlayStation (1994) were for the more serious gamers and included titles like Resident Evil (1996), Gran Turismo (1998) and Final Fantasy VII (1997). And we can’t forget about the Tamagotchi (1996) movement that swept the nation either — my favorite was helping my digital pet recover from sickness.

Internet

You may remember back before Wikipedia when knowledge was accessed via CD-ROM disk and a program called Microsoft Encarta (1993)? It wasn’t that long ago that we needed to use a modem and dial-up Internet connections to access the breadth of information available to us on the World Wide Web. Back in the 90s, apps for your mobile phones were essentially Floppy Disks or CD-ROMs you were placing into a machine for access. And how did we survive without Google Maps with physical maps we had to struggle to fold?

Phones

You may remember the first car phones like the popular Motorola Bag Phone 2900 (1994) with its great battery life. Can you imagine using something like that today? Technology has advanced a long way over the years and phones are no exception. From the first flip phone design by Motorola, the MicroTAC (1989), to the Nokia 9000 Communicator (1997), which is the first cell phone considered a mini-computer due to the appearance of a full QWERTY keyboard on a smartphone. What will the next 20 years bring us? Whatever comes next, you bet OtterBox will be there for all your smartphone protection needs.

Battery life is a daily struggle. If you’re like me, then your mobile phone is almost always dead. Honestly, it feels like I’m Captain Kirk trying to get my phone’s equivalent of Montgomery Scott to divert me more power (“I’m giving her all she’s got, Captain!”).

Awful Star Trek jokes aside, we could all use a little more battery life for our mobile devices. The Resurgence Power Case doubles my phone’s battery capacity with a sleek design, while protecting my phone from drops and scratches along the way. It has truly been a lifesaver.

Even with my Resurgence, I still like to conserve and monitor my battery usage as much as possible. Take a look at some of our favorite battery-saving apps for Android and iOS users:

Android

The Juice Defender is a free app that is tailor-made to suit your battery preferences. Set it to a preset mode, or customize your own, and it runs by itself — freeing you from the worry of a dead battery. Upgrade to Plus ($1.99) or Ultimate ($4.99) versions and unlock more features like scheduling, autosync and GPS controls.

This power saving app comes with a convenient control widget and one-touch power optimization. DU Battery Saver also gives you a battery charge-state monitor and tools for viewing app power usage. Upgrade to the Pro app and unlock scheduling features, a task killer and the option to tune the CPU frequency of rooted phones.

If you’re looking for a treasure trove of features Battery Defender is your best bet. It provides quick access to toggle your common connections such as GPS, Wi-Fi, mobile data and Bluetooth. The app also includes a feature called Genius Scan, which allows a sync to occur every 15 minutes.

Battery Doctor allows users to look up battery charge status and track down what apps and other functions are draining battery life. The app lets you define power saving profiles and automatically schedule certain times to conserve your battery. So, when you have a meeting coming up, just schedule it in Battery Doctor and you’ll be distraction and dead battery free!

iOS

Just like the app for Android users, the iOS version offers thorough information and powerful tools for your device’s battery. The app gives an accurate estimate of remaining battery life based on current app usage — and more importantly — ways to extend battery life.

Battery Manager Pro gives you an impressive amount of battery monitoring tools including charge indication readouts, battery life estimates for common tasks and more. What sets this app apart is its battery life estimators. This slider feature allows users to approximate how much battery life remains if they spend ‘X’ hours doing things like listening to music or watching videos.

Normal collects data usage on your phone and then aggregates the data in its cloud servers for analysis. The app then displays a list of recommended actions to take to prolong your battery life. Normal shows you what apps are battery drainers, how much energy they use, and estimates how much battery life you save by quitting an app.

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http://blog.otterbox.com/snowpocalypse-best-apps-to-get-you-through-the-winter/#commentsTue, 24 Feb 2015 22:00:42 +0000http://blog.otterbox.com/?p=26514

With the Snowpocalypse upon us, winter survival gear is no longer just a luxury. It’s a necessity. No, we’re not talking about faux-mink coats, emergency blankets, hand warmers, or even snowshoes here– although they too are necessary. We mean the stuff you couldn’t survive without if a snowstorm rolls in — your electronics. We’ve accumulated a list of must-have winter survival apps to help you thrive when the stormy weather hits.

Developed by the federal agency tasked with informing citizens on the changing environment from the, “surface of the sun to the depths of the ocean floor” — you know this app is legit. The NOAA Snow Forecast app gives you pinpoint snow predictions rather than a more generalized city/state-wide forecast. Pick up this app for hourly updates of what’s going on in your neck of the woods. And while you’re at it, download the whole NOAA suite of apps ranging from severe weather radar to future forecast data.

Weathermob makes the case for fun and sociable weather forecasts, no matter how frightful the weather is outside. By crowdsourcing people in your area, Weathermob operates off a collective intelligence — forming a community of contributors — making weather-people out of all of us. We may not be able to control the weather, but together we better predict it (certainly more accurate than the beige suit-wearing meteorologist at your local news station). Download the app and become part of the mob.

Trapped inside and your snow shoveling hand is cramped? Not a problem. Plowz is an ingenious app offering snowplowing services anytime, anywhere. Similar to Uber you contact a driver in your vicinity, or in this case a plower, who then comes to plow your driveway. As an added bonus, Plowz offers a lawn mowing service — Mowz — handy for the summer months. All payments and scheduling are done in the app, so you have one less chore to finish on your day in. Make sure to get this one from your app store, and why not sign up to be a Plowz driver and earn up to $1,200 during a snowstorm?

Find yourself snowed in and famished this winter? Fret not! Seamless is here to fulfill all your takeout needs. The app features delivery services from thousands of restaurants in 40 U.S. cities, so you won’t be limited to cans of soup or dehydrated noodles in your pantry. Seamless also offers exclusive deals on orders for its users. There’s no need to cook when the weather turns south, so spend that extra free time sitting around the fireplace app drinking hot coco waiting for the storm to pass over. A hot meal delivered right to your door is only a few clicks away.

For if things get real nasty outside, the Winter Survival Kit gives you genuine survival tips. The app features vital safety information for numerous scenarios, including how to conserve heat when trapped in your car. Winter Survival Kit isn’t just useful information — it offers solutions such as determining your current GPS location, dials 911 or contacts your family and friends. There are no excuses for not downloading this free app. It might just be the lifeline to one day save your life.

Hurry up and download these apps before inclement weather causes power outages in your area. In case of blackout, be glad you snagged an OtterBox Resurgence case to keep your device alive no matter what the weather throws your way. Be safe and good luck out there!

It’s no secret that handling personal finances is a skill most Americans struggle with. A study published by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority revealed that 56 percent of Americans do not have a rainy-day fund to cover three months of unanticipated financial emergency, and over a third reported paying off only the minimum balance on their credit card during the last year. Although money is one of the biggest sources of stress for many, few are taking the necessary steps to improve the situation. The way we handle transactions over the last few decades has changed drastically, from online bank account monitoring to automatic bill pay, spending has become more convenient — and possibly more dangerous — than ever before. So why not let those same technological advancements do the heavy lifting for us? Here are the top 8 apps to help control your spending and better manage your finances.

Manilla

Backed by Heart, Manilla is a free, secure and widely acclaimed money-managing app. Manilla allows you to keep track of your credit cards, bank accounts, travel reward programs and loyalty cards. Its automatic reminders and calendar options ensure you stay on top of all your bills, while the filing cabinet allows you to digitally keep record of every statement, note or offer you’d want to save.

Mint

Simple to set up and use, Mint is one of the most well known financial apps out there. The app syncs to your online bank account to keep track of your spending in real time, and then analyzes each transaction and groups them into various categories to provide you with an accurate look at where all your money is being spent. It also allows you to set a budget for each category and sends an alert when you’re about to surpass that budget. The data is also broken down into a monthly graph to view overall spending habits and see where you’re able to cut back.

MoneyWise

If you often find yourself in areas with little-to-no cell phone reception, or prefer to review things on paper, MoneyWise may be a great option for you! Because it has no allegiance to a website or service, it can be fully used offline. It allows you to manually create and edit multiple budgets and set recurring expenses, which are then exported to a file, spreadsheet or email.

Dollarbird

While reviewing your bank transactions, have you ever noticed a charge you didn’t recognize? I know I have. Trying to remember what I spent 15 dollars on last Saturday can be difficult to recall. Enter Dollarbird — a wonderful finance-tracking app that lays out each transaction into a colorful, calendar-based design. This app allows you to keep better track of your income and expenses to see how it plays out each month. Along with recurring transaction and bill reminders it also provides a detailed account of your spending habits, and based off that, projects your financial future. This is a great way to set financial goals for future plans!

Mint Bills

Formally called Check, Mint Bills is similar to other finance apps. Whereas other apps only sync to your bank and credit accounts to help monitor your funds, Mint Bills sets itself apart by allowing you to pay your bills from the app itself. Users do this either manually or via scheduled automatic payments.

Expensify

For those of you who often have to travel for business, Expensify is a great way to take the headache out of expense reporting. Not only does it track what you spend, but it automatically scans and inputs your receipts. This allows you to keep a photo log of receipts, which makes reporting a lot less painful. If you also have to spend a lot of time on the road, there’s an input field for mileage and time spent travelling as well!

FlexScore

If you’re more concerned with your overall financial health — FlexScore is the app for you. It factors in your assets, debt, investments, income and anything else that may affect your financial health, to show you where you’re currently at and how to improve. The app not only gives you an idea of how you’re doing compared to your peers, but also provides advice and information on what steps to take to improve your score and reach financial independence.

Credit Karma Mobile

If you don’t already have this app installed you should download it now. With Credit Karma, easily view and monitor your official credit score on the go using its clean and simple interface. It’s absolutely free, and uses your credit score from two of the leading credit bureaus to send you notifications when something changes concerning your credit. What’s more, it breaks down your score into a detailed report, allowing you to better understand the areas that are affecting your score. The app then provides recommendations on steps to improve and reach your financial goals.

What other topics would you like to learn more about? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to keep your device safe with an OtterBox! See what’s available for your phone here.

Do you Snapchat? You really should. It’s an incredibly easy, light-hearted and often hilarious way to stay connected with friends and family. Snapchat is a vehicle to share moments. The app lets you create a story and share it with individuals you know or share it with the world as a form of contemporary storytelling. Snapchat tells a short story — a Snap— and the simplicity is the beauty of it.

Snaps may last up to ten seconds, but it’s your choice how long they can be viewed. Say a song comes on the radio and it reminds you of your best friend — Snap a ten-second video of yourself singing along and send it to them. Just like that, you’re sharing a fleeting moment. It’s quick and instant, as if your friend were there with you. If you want to share your story with a broader audience, string a bunch of these vignettes together by adding them to Your Story. Here they live on the Stories screen for twenty-four hours, where all of your followers can view them and share your day with you.

There are a couple Snapchat features I love that allow you to personalize the stories you tell:

Text

Snapchat lets you put text over your photo. I realize this seems simple, but being able to add a caption to your pictures and videos without having to open a separate editing app is brilliant.

Draw

Not all pictures need to include a witty quip — your photos are dazzling as they are — but some may need an awkwardly placed mustache. Snapchat encourages this customization. With the tap of your finger and a rainbow of accessible colors, you can draw on your pictures to your heart’s content, right there on the screen.

Filters

There are only a few filters to choose from, but sometimes it’s nice to change it up a bit — go black and white with a Snap to contrast your sunny locale.

Discover

Snapchat recently rolled out a new feature called Discover, allowing media companies to publish content to the app. CNN, Cosmopolitan, ESPN, the Food Network, National Geographic and People are a few of the brands to explore. They each upload original content — pictures and videos — to tell you a story. Discover is a place to find a dose of news, a quick celebrity update or a shot of nature’s beauty.

Who to Follow

Friends – yes. Family – yes. There are also some really great brands and public figures who use Snapchat and are really fun to follow. For instance, Ellen DeGeneres just started an account. The technology news and media network the Verge has a great account, as does Mashable, Jimmy Fallon, NPR News and OtterBox.

Snapchat is visual storytelling. Are you ready to tell your story? There’s an excellent beginners guide at Snapchat Support. Check it out, and get to snapping!